NameCensus.

UK surname

Coussens

A surname derived from the French word "cousin" meaning cousin or kinsman.

In the 1881 census there were 92 people recorded with the Coussens surname, ranking it #20,709 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 115, ranked #28,348, down from #20,709 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, Rye, Peasmarsh and Ore. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Thurrock, Rother and West Berkshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Coussens is 148 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 25.0%.

1881 census count

92

Ranked #20,709

Modern count

115

2016, ranked #28,348

Peak year

1911

148 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Coussens had 92 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,709 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 115 in 2016, ranked #28,348.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 148 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Coussens surname distribution map

The map shows where the Coussens surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Coussens surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Coussens over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 22 #29,378
1861 historical 24 #30,922
1881 historical 92 #20,709
1891 historical 87 #25,802
1901 historical 111 #21,492
1911 historical 148 #18,023
1997 modern 128 #23,238
1998 modern 127 #23,940
1999 modern 132 #23,602
2000 modern 134 #23,358
2001 modern 131 #23,343
2002 modern 135 #23,398
2003 modern 124 #24,378
2004 modern 129 #24,019
2005 modern 123 #24,663
2006 modern 117 #25,695
2007 modern 116 #26,209
2008 modern 115 #26,635
2009 modern 124 #25,957
2010 modern 130 #25,775
2011 modern 129 #25,673
2012 modern 122 #26,696
2013 modern 126 #26,585
2014 modern 129 #26,352
2015 modern 124 #26,944
2016 modern 115 #28,348

Geography

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Where Coussens' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, Rye, Peasmarsh, Ore, Hastings All Saints and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Thurrock, Rother, West Berkshire, Sheffield and West Lindsey. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew Sussex
2 Rye, Peasmarsh Sussex
3 Ore Sussex
4 Hastings All Saints Sussex
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Thurrock 014 Thurrock
2 Rother 009 Rother
3 West Berkshire 011 West Berkshire
4 Sheffield 033 Sheffield
5 West Lindsey 004 West Lindsey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Coussens

These lists show first names that appear often with the Coussens surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Coussens

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Coussens, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Coussens surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Coussens household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Coussens is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Coussens is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Coussens falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Coussens is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Coussens, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Coussens

The surname Coussens is of English origin, deriving from a place name in England. It is believed to have originated in the county of Cornwall, where it was initially spelled Cussens or Cussance. This name is thought to have derived from the Cornish words "cos" meaning wood and "ans" meaning valley, referring to a wooded valley or glen.

Records show that the Coussens surname first appeared in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. In this document, the name was spelled Cossens, referring to individuals residing in the area of Cornwall.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the Coussens name was Richard Cossens, who was listed in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Cornwall in 1327. Another early example is John Cussens, whose name appears in the Feet of Fines records of Somerset in 1461.

Over time, the spelling of the name evolved, with variations such as Cussance, Cussens, Cussance, and eventually Coussens emerging. This surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Cornwall, Devon, and Somerset in the southwestern regions of England.

Notable individuals with the Coussens surname include:

1. John Coussens (1760-1835), a British landscape painter known for his depictions of rural English scenes. 2. Mary Coussens (1823-1891), an English author and poet who wrote under the pen name "Mary Mordaunt." 3. Sir Thomas Coussens (1848-1924), a British politician and banker who served as Lord Mayor of London from 1910 to 1911. 4. William Coussens (1876-1945), an English cricketer who played for the Somerset County Cricket Club in the early 20th century. 5. Elizabeth Coussens (1885-1976), a prominent Canadian educator and advocate for women's rights, who founded the Coussens School for Girls in Ottawa.

The Coussens surname has a rich history rooted in the English countryside, particularly in the southwestern regions of the country. Its origins can be traced back to the Norman Conquest, and it has been associated with various notable individuals throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Coussens families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Coussens surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Sussex leads with 70 Coussens' recorded in 1881 and an index of 46.26x.

County Total Index
Sussex 70 46.26x
Norfolk 10 7.25x
Cheshire 6 3.03x
Surrey 3 0.69x
Yorkshire 3 0.34x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hastings St Mary In The in Sussex leads with 18 Coussens' recorded in 1881 and an index of 557.28x.

Place Total Index
Hastings St Mary In The 18 557.28x
Hastings St Clement 15 1056.34x
Hastings All Sts 12 839.16x
Rye 10 694.44x
Watlington 10 5263.16x
Hastings St Mary 6 159.15x
Ore 6 530.97x
Runcorn 6 131.29x
Camberwell 3 5.23x
Ecclesall Bierlow 3 16.58x
New Shoreham 2 219.78x
Hollington 1 185.19x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Coussens surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 6
Sarah 4
Eliza 3
Elizabeth 3
Emma 3
Ann 2
Ellen 2
Alice 1
Anne 1
Charlotte 1
Elizth. 1
Elsie 1
Eva 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Isabel 1
Jane 1
Jessie 1
L.E. 1
Lillian 1
Lily 1
Louisa 1
Lydia 1
Maria 1
Nellie 1
Rachel 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Coussens surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 9
David 4
Edward 3
John 3
Charles 2
Elias 2
George 2
James 2
Samuel 2
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
C.J. 1
Cyril 1
Daniel 1
Darius 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Henry 1
Jesse 1
Mark 1
Matthew 1
Maurice 1
Owen 1
Penrhyn 1
Richard 1
Thomas 1
Tom 1
Walter 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Coussens households.

FAQ

Coussens surname: questions and answers

How common was the Coussens surname in 1881?

In 1881, 92 people were recorded with the Coussens surname. That placed it at #20,709 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Coussens surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 115 in 2016. That gives Coussens a modern rank of #28,348.

What does the Coussens surname mean?

A surname derived from the French word "cousin" meaning cousin or kinsman.

What does the Coussens map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Coussens bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.